Taxes & Surcharges on *A Carriers
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: YVR
Programs: BA Gold, HH Diamond, Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 81
Taxes & Surcharges on *A Carriers
In the past two weeks, I have been researching extensively on my mini RTW, and more importantly on how to minimise the total cost.
I have been struggling to find an authoritative source pointing to which airlines to use or avoid when it comes to taxes and surcharges. So I did my own research on some 16 *A airlines. This is not exhaustive because I was mostly basing it on how to get from Europe 1 (LHR) to Asia 2 and 1 (KUL and ICN), then to North America (YVR), and ending in Europe 1 (LHR).
In general (as of 8th March 2012):
Definitely No / Avoid
AC LH OS TG NH OZ TP LO
^ Definitely Yes / Use
UA SK LX TK CA MS SN SQ SA
Also worth noting that if you can avoid LHR as a departure point, don't hesitate to do it as LHR has a whopping $295 departure tax (for J class). DUB is a cheap alternative.
Hopefully this will benefit our fellow readers and save them a load of time in research.
Edit: Add SA to "Definitely Yes / Use" list.
I have been struggling to find an authoritative source pointing to which airlines to use or avoid when it comes to taxes and surcharges. So I did my own research on some 16 *A airlines. This is not exhaustive because I was mostly basing it on how to get from Europe 1 (LHR) to Asia 2 and 1 (KUL and ICN), then to North America (YVR), and ending in Europe 1 (LHR).
In general (as of 8th March 2012):
Definitely No / Avoid
AC LH OS TG NH OZ TP LO
^ Definitely Yes / Use
UA SK LX TK CA MS SN SQ SA
Also worth noting that if you can avoid LHR as a departure point, don't hesitate to do it as LHR has a whopping $295 departure tax (for J class). DUB is a cheap alternative.
Hopefully this will benefit our fellow readers and save them a load of time in research.
Edit: Add SA to "Definitely Yes / Use" list.
Last edited by sllee; Mar 28, 2012 at 5:35 pm Reason: Add SA to Yes
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Canada
Programs: UA*1K MM
Posts: 23,293
going LHR-FRA-YYZ is still charged as LHR-YYZ if no stop in FRA
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: YVR
Programs: BA Gold, HH Diamond, Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 81
That's my understanding from HMRC website. And that's what I got charged too.
I finally did book LHR-ZRH-BKK-KUL-SIN-ICN-SEA-YVR-ORD-CPH-LHR in I class (except SEA-YVR in X).
LHR-ZRH-BKK - UK charges = $295.70 GB and $40.10 UB. Brutal!!
#6
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: YYC
Programs: Aeroplan SE 100 IHG Plat Amb Nexus
Posts: 667
Best deal ever?
I just got back from a mini RTW 75,000 points in business... on the special total fees $187, no surcharges. YYC-YVR AC YVR-PEK-BKK on CA stop BKK-IST on TK stop IST-CDG TK CDG-ORD-YYC UA
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: YVR
Programs: BA Gold, HH Diamond, Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 81
#8
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: YYC
Programs: Aeroplan SE 100 IHG Plat Amb Nexus
Posts: 667
Best deal ever?
It was great to get the 75,00 deal. There was a non publicized "promotion" a while back where business tickets were going for economy points, first for business points... lots of post on FT. Sometimes it pays to check the board.
#9
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Canada
Programs: *void
Posts: 2,408
What happens when...?
and
Business Awards Economy Miles Today Only?
#10
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: DC
Posts: 195
Would like to book a trip from AMM to either EDI or DUB, perhaps using Aeroplan miles, but want to know what the fees would be like. I can't seem to get the online system to give me any results for this route. In fact, it can't seem to do any searches between Middle East and Europe 1.
Most likely I'd fly BMI, connecting in London, due to availability on my preferred dates.
Any idea what the taxes/fees would look like for this route on BMI? Would they be considerably lower if I flew TK (AMM to DUB) connecting in IST?
Most likely I'd fly BMI, connecting in London, due to availability on my preferred dates.
Any idea what the taxes/fees would look like for this route on BMI? Would they be considerably lower if I flew TK (AMM to DUB) connecting in IST?
#11
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: YVR
Programs: BA Gold, HH Diamond, Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 81
Would like to book a trip from AMM to either EDI or DUB, perhaps using Aeroplan miles, but want to know what the fees would be like. I can't seem to get the online system to give me any results for this route. In fact, it can't seem to do any searches between Middle East and Europe 1.
Most likely I'd fly BMI, connecting in London, due to availability on my preferred dates.
Any idea what the taxes/fees would look like for this route on BMI? Would they be considerably lower if I flew TK (AMM to DUB) connecting in IST?
Most likely I'd fly BMI, connecting in London, due to availability on my preferred dates.
Any idea what the taxes/fees would look like for this route on BMI? Would they be considerably lower if I flew TK (AMM to DUB) connecting in IST?
#12
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: DC
Posts: 195
Thanks for the reply, sllee. That's great to know for future reference, but I won't need to use AP miles on this one after all. I actually wound up booking AMM-LGW on easyJet, of all things-- hate not earning miles, and it won't be comfortable, but the times were exactly what I wanted and it was $400 cheaper than any other option!
#13
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: YYC
Programs: AEROPLAN, ALASKA
Posts: 99
In the past two weeks, I have been researching extensively on my mini RTW, and more importantly on how to minimise the total cost.
I have been struggling to find an authoritative source pointing to which airlines to use or avoid when it comes to taxes and surcharges. So I did my own research on some 16 *A airlines. This is not exhaustive because I was mostly basing it on how to get from Europe 1 (LHR) to Asia 2 and 1 (KUL and ICN), then to North America (YVR), and ending in Europe 1 (LHR).
In general (as of 8th March 2012):
Definitely No / Avoid
AC LH OS TG NH OZ TP LO
^ Definitely Yes / Use
UA SK LX TK CA MS SN SQ SA
Also worth noting that if you can avoid LHR as a departure point, don't hesitate to do it as LHR has a whopping $295 departure tax (for J class). DUB is a cheap alternative.
Hopefully this will benefit our fellow readers and save them a load of time in research.
Edit: Add SA to "Definitely Yes / Use" list.
I have been struggling to find an authoritative source pointing to which airlines to use or avoid when it comes to taxes and surcharges. So I did my own research on some 16 *A airlines. This is not exhaustive because I was mostly basing it on how to get from Europe 1 (LHR) to Asia 2 and 1 (KUL and ICN), then to North America (YVR), and ending in Europe 1 (LHR).
In general (as of 8th March 2012):
Definitely No / Avoid
AC LH OS TG NH OZ TP LO
^ Definitely Yes / Use
UA SK LX TK CA MS SN SQ SA
Also worth noting that if you can avoid LHR as a departure point, don't hesitate to do it as LHR has a whopping $295 departure tax (for J class). DUB is a cheap alternative.
Hopefully this will benefit our fellow readers and save them a load of time in research.
Edit: Add SA to "Definitely Yes / Use" list.
#14
Join Date: Jan 2012
Programs: CX Gold, AC Elite, SPG, IHG Plat, AMEX Plat
Posts: 88
I booked OS and AC through USAir biz (miles) and charge was $165 compared to AP exact schedule in biz at $900. Not the airline but which program you book with.
I am so careful with AP mileage bookings now as the scamcharges are way too high compared to US or UA.
I am so careful with AP mileage bookings now as the scamcharges are way too high compared to US or UA.
#15
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: YYZ
Programs: AC
Posts: 368
If you're lucky, AE.com will display the flights you want. But they have a way of de-prioritizing flights that don't earn them scamcharges, so to book those flights, you have to call in to the call centre to make the booking. You pay a $30 per ticket booking fee, but that's still cheaper than the scamcharge you're avoiding!